RULE 3.213.   CONTINUING INCOMPETENCY TO PROCEED, EXCEPT INCOMPETENCY TO PROCEED WITH SENTENCING; DISPOSITION

(a)    Dismissal without Prejudice during Continuing Incompetency.

After a determination that a person is incompetent to stand trial or proceed with a probation or community control violation hearing, the charge(s):

(1)    shall be dismissed 1 year after a finding if the charge is a misdemeanor;

(2)    shall be dismissed no later than 2 years after a finding if incompetency is due to intellectual disability or autism;

(3)    may be dismissed 3 years after a finding, unless a charge is listed in section 916.145, Florida Statutes; or

(4)    shall be dismissed after a finding that the defendant has remained incompetent for 5 continuous and uninterrupted years;

provided that the court finds that the defendant remains incompetent to stand trial or proceed with a probation or community control violation hearing unless the court in its order specifies its reasons for believing that the defendant is expected to become competent to proceed.  A dismissal under this rule shall be without prejudice to the state to refile the charge(s) should the defendant be declared competent to proceed in the future.

(b)    Commitment or Treatment during Continuing Incompetency.

(1)    If the defendant meets the criteria for commitment under section 394.467, Florida Statutes, the court shall commit the defendant to the Department of Children and Families for involuntary hospitalization solely under the provisions of law.  If the defendant meets the criteria of section 394.4655, Florida Statutes, the court may order that the defendant receive outpatient treatment at any other facility or service on an outpatient basis subject to the provisions of those statutes.  In the order of commitment, the judge shall order that the administrator of an inpatient facility notify the state attorney of the committing circuit no less than 30 days prior to the anticipated date of release of the defendant.

(2)    If the continuing incompetency is due to intellectual disability or autism, and the defendant either lacks the ability to provide for his or her well-being or is likely to physically injure himself or herself, or others, the defendant may be involuntarily admitted to residential services as provided by law.

(c)    Applicability. This rule shall not apply to defendants determined to be incompetent to proceed with sentencing, which is addressed in rule 3.214.